Columbus Blue Jacket star winger Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother, Matthew, passed away Thursday night after being struck by a drunk driver while riding their bicycles. Johnny was 31 years old with his brother being just 29.
The two brothers were out together the night before what was supposed to be their sister’s wedding in their home state of New Jersey. Rumors circled late Thursday night of the incident and were sadly confirmed Friday morning.
Johnny had just finished his second season in Columbus after signing with the Jackets in 2022. Gaudreau chose Columbus despite it being labeled as a bottom-tier destination in the NHL with Columbus even consistently losing their own top players in free agency to bigger markets.
Matthew was a standout player at Boston College, where he spent a single season in 2013 playing with his older brother. He recently became the head coach of Gloucester High School’s hockey team in 2022 in the two’s home state.
Johnny was a 7-time NHL All-Star and a NCAA national champion in 2012 at Boston College. He iced the game in the frozen four final with a late third-period goal. He then went on to win the Hobey Baker award in 2014, awarded to the best player in that NCAA season. He would join the Calgary Flames who drafted him in 2011 for their final game in the 2014 season. He scored on his only shot attempt in the debut.
Johnny would go on to have a very successful tenure with the flames. He would even score 115 points in his final season with the team before signing a huge seven-year deal with the Blue Jackets. Gaudreau lead Columbus in points in each of his two years with the squad. He more importantly proved to be a great leader and a wonderful ambassador of the city.
This unfortunately is also not the first time Columbus has experienced this sort of loss. Goaltender Mattis Kivlenieks was killed in a fireworks accident on the fourth of July in 2021. Teammate Elvis Merzlikins revealed later that Mattis was attempting to protect others, including his wife and child, during the accident. He was 24 years old.
Johnny and Matthew both leave behind beloved families. Johnny leaves his wife Meredith and his two young children. Matthew also leaves behind his wife, Madeline, who is currently pregnant with their first child.
The city of Columbus and the entirety of the hockey world will continue to mourn the loss of two brothers who stood for everything the game should be about. All of our thoughts are with their family and friends.
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